Candle stabilizing device

ABSTRACT

An adapter for removable insertion into a socket of a candle holder for stabilizing a candle within the socket. The adapter comprises a circularly shaped base wall having four circumferentially spaced upstanding arms along the base wall and which are designed to engage the candle therebetween. Moreover, the arms snuggly fit within the socket of a candle holder for stabilizing the candle in a substantially vertical position.

United States Patent 1191 Clarke et al.

[ 51 Nov. 11, 1975 I CANDLE STABILIZING DEVICE [76] Inventors: Gladys E.Clarke; Richard V.

Clarke, both of 6033 S. Holt Ave. Los Angeles, Calif. 90056 [22] Filed:May 16, 1974 211 App]. No.: 470,613

[52] US. Cl. 431/297; 24/259 C [51] Int. Cl. F23D 3/16 [58] Field ofSearch 431/297, 296; 24/259 C [56] References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 422.989 3/1890 Stelzner 431/297 1918098 7/1933 Haley 431/297FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 17.222 1889 United Kingdom 431/29717.607 1895 United Kingdom 431/297 6.40. 1890 United Kingdom 431/297414.543 9/1910 France I 431/297 Prinml v Exuminer-Carroll B. Dority Jr.Anal-nay. Agent. or Firnz-R0bert J. Schaap 5 7 ABSTRACT An adapter forremovable insertion into a socket of a candle holder for stabilizing acandle within the socket. The adapter comprises a circularly shaped basewall having four circumferentially spaced upstanding arms along the basewall and which are designed to engage the candle therebetween. Moreover.the arms snuggly fit within the socket of a candle holder forstabilizing the candle in a substantially vertical position.

14 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures US. Patent Nov. 11, 1975 CANDLE STABILIZINGDEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates in general tocertain new and useful improvements in candle holders, and moreparticularly. to certain new and useful improvements in stabilizingmeans for insertion into a socket of a candle holder.

It has been long recognized that one of the particu larly annoyingproblems with practically all of the commercially available candleholders is that the candle does not snuggly fit within the socket of thecandle holder. In many cases. the base of the candle is either too largeto snuggly fit within the socket of the candle holder and must be shavedon its annular surface in order to reduce the diametral size thereof forinsertion into the candle holder socket. Otherwise, the overalldiametral size of the base of the candle is smaller than the diametralsize of the socket which receives the candle and in which case, thecandle will continuously shift within the socket of the candle holder.Not only is this problem annoying. but it does not constitute apotential fire hazard inasmuch as the candle can be easily inadvertentlyknocked out of the socket of the candle holder.

In order to obviate the problem of the candle which is too small for thecandle holder socket, users have resorted to various means. such aswrapping a piece of wax paper or other filling material around the baseof the candle, in order to obtain snug fitting reception within thesocket of the candle holder. Other techniques reside in the heating ofthe candle base in order to create a wax layer within the candle holdersocket for stabilizing the candle therein.

The prior art has proposed various forms of inserts for the sockets ofcandle holders in order to removably receive a candle therein. Suchdevices, are for example. illustrated in US. Pat. No. 1,559,304 and US.Pat. No. 422,989, as well as US. PAt. No. 441,625. However, the adaptorsor inserts of the prior art as exemplified by these patents are notparticularly effective in that they do not conform to the variance inthe size of the sockets of various candle holders and even more so. donot conform properly to the size of a candle base.

It is therefore the primary object of the present invention to provide astabilizing means for a candle holder in a form of an adapter therefor,which will effectively hold a candle in an upright position within thecandle holder.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a stabilizingadapter of the type stated which is capable of conforming to sizevariation in both the candle and the socket of the candle holder.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a stabilizingadapter of the type stated which can be produced on a mass productionbasis at a relatively low cost.

With the above and other objects in view. our invention resides in thenovel features of form, construction. arrangement. and a combination ofparts presently described and pointed out in the claims.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION In general terms the present invention relates to anadapter for removable insertion into a socket of a candle holder forstabilizing a candle therein. This adapter comprises a base wall ofoverall size approximately equal to the size ofa base of a candle. Aplurality of upstanding arms are spaced around the periphery of thisbase wall and these arms are somewhat arcuately shaped in verticalcrosssection. Each of the arms have somewhat arcuately shaped inwardlypresented wall to engage a candle between the arms. An outwardlypresented edge is formed on each of the arms for engaging a socket wallin the candle holder. Furthermore. the arms are somewhat resilient so asto retentively engage the candle and to snuggly fit within the socket ofthe candle holder.

The adapter of the present invention can be charac' terized in furtherdetail in that a pair of spaced apart outwardly presented edges areformed on each of the arms. The somewhat arcuately shaped inwardlypresented walls merge into the outwardly presented edges on each of thearms. Moreover. the base wall is circular in shape and four of theupstanding arms are provided. These arms are substantially equidistantlyspaced from each other around the periphery of the base wall.

In a more specific aspect of the invention. the adapter is characterizedin that the upstanding arms diverge outwardly from the base wall. Theseupstanding arms diverge outwardly from the base wall at an angle ofabout 10 to about 17 with respect to a vertical plane passing throughthe base wall. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, theupstanding arms diverge outwardly from the base wall at an angle ofabout 13 with respect to a vertical plane passing through the base wall.

With respect to preferred sizes, the adapter can be furthercharacterized in that the base wall is approximately of an inch indiameter. The arms have an upper edge which is spaced from the base wallabout 9/16 of an inch. Finally, the arms have a width, as measured alongthe periphery of the base wall. of about one-fourth of an inch.

The present invention can also be described in general terms as a candleholder with removable stabilizing means therefor. This candle holdercomprises a socket having a base and an upstanding cylindrically shapedside wall extending from the base. The stabilizing means comprises abase wall which is sized to fit within the socket. The base wall isprovided with a downwardly presented surface which engages the base ofthe socket. The base wall is also provided with an upwardly presentedsurface which is sized to substantially conform to the base of a candle.

A plurality of upstanding arms are spaced around the periphery of thebase wall and which are somewhat arcuately shaped in verticalcross-section. These arms each have a somewhat arcuately shaped wallwhich is convexly presented with respect to the interior. of the socket.A pair of spaced-apart outwardly presented edges are provided on each ofthe arms and which merge into the arcuately shaped wall. These arms aresomewhat resilient so that the arcuately shaped walls can be biasedoutwardly toward the cylindrical shaped side wall to retentively hold acandle therebetween. In addition, the outwardly presented edges canengage the cylindrically shaped side wall of the socket to retentivelyhold the stabilizing means therein.

The candle holder described above can be further characterized in thatthe base wall is circular in shape and four of the upstanding arms areprovided. These arms are also substantially equidistantly spaced fromeach other around the periphery of the base wall of the stabilizingmeans.

The candle holder described above can also be char acterized in that theupstanding arms diverge outwardly from said base wall. Moreover. thevarious angles ofdivergence and the preferred angle of divergencespecitied above are applicable to this embodiment of the candle holder.In like manner, the various sizes speci fied above are also applicableto the stabilizing means of the candle holder described herein.

The present invention also provides a modified form of adapter forremovable insertion into a socket of a candle holder for stabilizing acandle therein. This latter adapter comprises a base wall of overallsize approximately equal to the size of a base of a candle. A pluralityof upstanding arms are spaced around the periphery of said base wall andwhich arms are somewhat arcuately shaped in vertical cross-sections.Each of the arms have an inwardly presented edge formed thereon toengage a candle between the arms, and an edge formed on each of thearms. A somewhat arcuately shaped outwardly presented wall is providedfor engaging a socket wall in the candle holder. The arms are somewhatresilient so as to retentively engage the candle and to snuggly fitwithin the socket of the candle holder.

This latter form of adapter can be further characterized in that a pairof spaced apart inwardly presented edges are formed on each of the arms.The somewhat arcuately shaped outwardly presented walls merge into theinwardly presented edges on each of the arms.

FIGURES Having thus described the invention in general terms, referencewill now be made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an adapter for candle holdersconstructed in accordance and embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the adapter of FIG. 1;

FIG.- 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing the adapter ofthe present invention fitted within a candle holder socket andsupporting a candle therein;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken along Line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the adapter of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a modified form of adapter of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION upstanding arms 12. By further reference to FIG. 1,it

can be observed that the arms 12 are located along the periphery of thebase wall 10 and substantially equidistantly spaced from each other soas to be rectangularly located with respect to each other.

Each of the upstanding arms 12 have a somewhat arcuate shape in verticalcross section so that they present an arcuately shaped candle engagingsurfaces 14 which are convex with respect to the interior of the adapterA. Moreover. the arms present outwardly extending socket engagingvertically disposed edges 16 on opposite ends thereof. The base 10 isprovided with an upwardly presented surface 18 which is sized to receivethe base ofa candle in a manner to be hereinafter 4 describedv Inaddition. the base 10 is also provided with a bottom wall 20 which isadapted to engage the base wall of a candle holder also in a manner tobe hereinaftcr described in more detail.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing the use of theadapter A within the socket S of a conventional candle holder.designated by reference numeral C. In this case, the socket S is mountedon a stem 22. The socket S is preferably circular in hori7ontal crosssection and includes a somewhat cylindrically shaped interior cavity 24.Moreover, the cavity has a base wall which is designed to engage thedownwardly presented wall 20 of the adapter Av By further reference toFIG. 3, it can be observed that a candle. designated by referencenumeral M, can be conveniently disposed within the adapter A in suchmanner that the arcuately shaped wall 14 engages the side wall of thecandle M. Moreover, it can be observed that the candle M has a baseportion which snuggly engages the upwardly presented surface 18 of theadapter A. The oppositely disposed edges 16 on each of the arms 14 willengage the interiorly presented wall of the socket S. In this respect,it should be observed that the arms 14 are somewhat resilient in theirconstruction. In this way, the convexly presented wall 14 can be biasedoutwardly in order to accommodate the candle, and in like manner, theedges 16 will somewhat bias the arms 12 so that the convex surface 14 isfurther urged outwardly in which manner the adapter A may snuggly fitwithin the socket S. In this way, it can also be observed that theadapter A is capable of being used in a number of candle holders sinceit automatically conforms to the base portion of the candle and to thesize of the socket and the candle holder.

The candle holder of the present invention has been constructed andsuccessfully employed in this proposed application. In a preferred formof the adapter A, the base has an overall diameter of approximately 4inches. Moreover, each of the arms have a width, as measured around theperiphery of the base, of approximately A; inch. Moreover, the arms 12have an overall length in the vertical dimension, as measured from thebase 10 to the upper edges of the arms 12, of about 9/l6th of an inch.Finally, the arms 12 diverge outwardly at an angle of about 10 to about17 with respect to a vertical centerline passing through the base 10.However, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the angleof diversion of the arms should be 13.

FIG. 6 illustrates a modified form of adapter B of the present inventionwhich is similar in construction to the previously described adapter Aand is used in the same manner. The adapter B differs from the adapter Ain that arms 12 are located on a base 10 so that the former candleengaging surface 14 is presented outwardly to become a socket wallengaging surface 14'. In like manner a pair of edges 16 on the arms 12will engage the exterior surface of the candle M. The adapter B is alsofound to be highly effective in the use of supporting a candle in astabilized position.

The adapters of the present invention may be conveniently made fromeither plastic material or metals. Thus. the adapter A may be made froma rigid polyethylene. polystyrene, any of a number of methacrylates oracrylates. or the like. In like manner the adapter A may be made from avariety of metals including thin gauge steel, aluminum or the like. Ifmade of metal, a blockformer die may be used to construct the adapter Aor otherwise.

Thus. there has been illustrated and described a novel adapter forcandle holders which fulfills all of the objects and advantages soughttherefor. It should become apparent to the skilled artisan that changes.modifications. and other uses and applications of the adapter of thepresent invention would be obvious to those skilled in the art afterconsidering this specification and the accompanying drawings. Therefore,any and all such changes. modifications, and other uses and applicationsare deemed to be within the scope of the invention which is limited onlyby the following claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we desire to claim and secureby letters patent is:

1. An adapter for removable insertion into a socket of a candle holderfor stabilizing a candle therein, said adapter comprising a base wall ofoverall size approximately equal to the size of a base of a candle. aplurality of upstanding arms spaced around the periphery of said basewall and which arms are somewhat arcuately shaped in verticalcrosssection. each of said arms having a somewhat arcuately shapedinwardly presented wall to engage a candle between said arms, and anoutwardly presented edge formed on each of said arms for engaging asocket wall in the candle holder, said arms being somewhat resilient soas to retentively engage said candle and to snuggly fit within thesocket of said candle holder.

2. The adapter of claim 1 further characterized in that a pair of spacedapart outwardly presented edges are formed on each of said arms, andsaid somewhat arcuately shaped inwardly presented walls merging into theoutwardly presented edges on each of said arms.

3. The adapter of claim 1 further characterized in that said base wallis circular in shape and four of said upstanding arms are provided andare substantially equidistantly spaced from each other around theperiphery of said base wall.

4. The adapter of claim 1 further characterized in that said upstandingarms diverge outwardly from said base wall.

5. The adapter of claim 1 further characterized in that said upstandingarms diverge outwardly from said base wall at an angle of about to about17 with respect to a vertical plane passing through said base wall.

6. The adapter of claim 1 further characterized in that said upstandingarms diverge outwardly from said base wall at an angle of about 13 withrespect to a vertical plane passing through said base wall.

7. The adapter of claim 3 further characterized in that said base wallis approximately of an inch in diameter, and said arms have an upperedge which is spaced from said base wall about 9/l6ofan inch, and saidarms have a width as measured along the periphery of said base wall ofabout A; of an inch.

8. A candle holder with removable stabilizing means therefor, saidcandle holder comprising a socket having a base and an upstandingcylindrically shaped side wall extending from said base, saidstabilizing means comprising a base wall which is sized to fit withinsaid socket and having a downwardly presented surface which engages thebase of said socket. said base wall having an upstanding presentedsurface which is sized to substantially conform to the base of a candle.a plurality of upstanding arms spaced around the periphery of said basewall and which are somewhat arcuately shaped in vertical cross-section,said arms having a somewhat arcuately shaped wall which is con exlypresented with respect to the interior of said socket, a pair ofspaced-apart outwardly presented edges on each of said arms and whichmerge into said arcuately shaped wall, said arms being somewhatresilient so that said arcuately shaped walls can be biased outwardlytoward said cylindrically shaped side wall to retentively hold a candletherebetween, and said outwardly presented edges can engage thecylindrically shaped side wall of said socket to retentively hold saidstabilizing means therein.

9. The candle holder of claim 8 further characterized in that said basewall is circular in shape and four of said upstanding arms are providedand are substantially equidistantly spaced from each other around theperiphery of said base wall of said stabilizing means.

10. The candle holder of claim 8 further characterized in that saidupstanding arms diverge outwardly from said base wall.

11. An adapter for removable insertion into a socket of a candle holderfor stabilizing a candle therein, said adapter comprising a circularbase wall of overall size approximately equal to the size of a base of acandle, four quadrilaterally located upstanding arms equidistantlyspaced around the periphery of said base wall and which arms divergeoutwardly from said base wall and are somewhat arcuately shaped invertical crosssection, each of said arms having a somewhat arcuatelyshaped inwardly presented wall to engage a candle between said arms, andan outwardly presented edge formed on each of said arms for engaging asocket wall in the candle holder, said arms being somewhat resilient soas to retentively engage said candle and to snugly fit within the socketof said candle holder.

12. The adapter of claim 11 further characterized in that saidupstanding arms diverge outwardly from said base wall at an angle ofabout 10 to about 17 with respect to a vertical plane passing throughsaid base wall.

13. The adapter of claim ll'further characterized in that saidupstanding arms diverge outwardly from said base wall at an angle ofabout 13 with respect to a vertical plane passing through said basewall.

14. The adapter of claim 11 further characterized in that said base wallis approximately of an inch in diameter. and said arms have an upperedge which is spaced from said base wall about 9/ l6ths of an inch, andsaid arms have a width as measured along the periphery of said base wallof about A; of an inch.

1. An adapter for removable insertion into a socket of a candle holderfor stabilizing a candle therein, said adapter comprising a base wall ofoverall size approximately equal to the size of a base of a candle, aplurality of upstanding arms spaced around the periphery of said basewall and which arms are somewhat arcuately shaped in verticalcrosssection, each of said arms having a somewhat arcuately shapedinwardly presented wall to engage a candle between said arms, and anoutwardly presented edge formed on each of said arms for engaging asocket wall in the candle holder, said arms being somewhat resilient soas to retentively engage said candle and to snuggly fit within thesocket of said candle holder.
 2. The adapter of claim 1 furthercharacterized in that a pair of spaced apart outwardly presented edgesare formed on each of said arms, and said somewhat arcuately shapedinwardly presented walls merging into the outwardly presented edges oneach of said arms.
 3. The adapter of claim 1 further characterized inthat said base wall is circular in shape and four of said upstandingarms are provided and are substantially equidistantly spaced from eachother around the periphery of said base wall.
 4. The adapter of claim 1further characterized in that said upstanding arms diverge outwardlyfrom said base wall.
 5. The adapter of claim 1 further characterized inthat said upstanding arms diverge outwardly from said base wall at anangle of about 10* to about 17* with respect to a vertical plane passingthrough said base wall.
 6. The adapter of claim 1 further characterizedin that said upstanding arms diverge outwardly from said base wall at anangle of about 13* with respect to a vertical plane passing through saidbase wall.
 7. The adapter of claim 3 further characterized in that saidbase wall is approximately 3/4 of an inch in diameter, and said armshave an upper edge which is spaced from said base wall about 9/16of aninch, and said arms have a width as measured along the periphery of saidbase wall of about 1/4 of an inch.
 8. A candle holder with removablestabilizing means therefor, said candle holder comprising a sockethaving a base and an upstanding cylindrically shaped side wall extendingfrom said base, said stabilizing means comprising a base wall which issized to fit within said socket and having a downwardly presentedsurface which engages the base of said socket, said base wall having anupstanding presented surface which is sized to substantially conform tothe base of a candle, a plurality of upstanding arms spaced around theperiphery of said base wall and which are somewhat arcuately shaped invertical cross-section, said arms having a somewhat arcuately shapedwall which is convexly presented with respect to the interior of saidsocket, a pair of spaced-apart outwardly presented edges on each of saidarms and which merge into said arcuately shaped wall, said arms beingsomewhat resilient so that said arcuately shaped walls can be biasedoutwardly toward said cylindrically shaped side wall to retentively holda candle therebetween, and said outwardly presented edges can engage thecylindrically shaped side wall of said socket to retentively hold saidstabilizing means therein.
 9. The candle holder of claim 8 furthercharacterized in that said base wall is circular in shape and four ofsaid upstanding arms are provided and are substantially equidistantlyspaced from each other around the periphery of said base wall of saidstabilizing means.
 10. The candle holder of claim 8 furthercharacterized in that said upstanding arms diverge outwardly from saidbase wall.
 11. An adapter for removable insertion into a socket of acandle holder for stabilizing a candle therein, said adapter comprisinga circular base wall of overall size approximately equal to the size ofa base of a candle, four quadrilaterally located upstanding armsequidistantly spaced around the periphery of said base wall and whicharms diverge outwardly from said base wall and are somewhat arcuatelyshaped in vertical cross-section, each of said arms having a somewhatarcuately shaped inwardly presented wall to engage a candle between saidarms, and an outwardly presented edge formed on each of said arms forengaging a socket wall in the candle holder, said arms being somewhatresilient so as to retentively engage said candle and to snugly fitwithin the socket of said candle holder.
 12. The adapter of claim 11further characterizeD in that said upstanding arms diverge outwardlyfrom said base wall at an angle of about 10* to about 17* with respectto a vertical plane passing through said base wall.
 13. The adapter ofclaim 11 further characterized in that said upstanding arms divergeoutwardly from said base wall at an angle of about 13* with respect to avertical plane passing through said base wall.
 14. The adapter of claim11 further characterized in that said base wall is approximately 3/4 ofan inch in diameter, and said arms have an upper edge which is spacedfrom said base wall about 9/16ths of an inch, and said arms have a widthas measured along the periphery of said base wall of about 1/4 of aninch.